Hand held roller frame

ABSTRACT

Roller frame includes an expandable core on the roller frame shaft having plural expandable fingers which are forced radially outwardly into frictional engagement with the inner diameter of a roller cover telescoped over the expandable fingers during axial movement of the expandable core in one direction relative to an axially stationary cam hub on the shaft. Removal of the roller cover merely requires the application of thumb pressure to the inboard end of the expandable core which forces the expandable core in the opposite direction releasing the expandable fingers from the locking tension of the cam hub and thereby permitting radial inward movement of the expandable fingers to release the roller cover from the frame. A telescoping handle extension may be attached to the frame handle permitting extension of both the handle and handle extension to any desired length and releasably locked in place for reaching different heights.

llnite States Patet [191 Roe et al.

[451 Aug. 14, 1973 211 App]. No.: 208,132

[52] US. Cl. l5/230.11, 15/144 B, 29/117, 242/682, 242/72.1, 287/58 CT[51] Int. Cl. 1305C 1/08, 844d 3/28, Fl6b 7/14 [58] Field of Search15/27, 143 B, 144 B, 15/230.11, 248 A; 29/1 10.5, 117; 242/72.l; 279/2[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,060,555 10/1962Kirshenbaum et a1 l5/230.11 X 3,638,271 2/1972 Pharris et a1 l5/230.113,335,446 8/1967 McGinley 15/230.1l 2,394,503 2/1946 Wilson 242/7213,685,084 8/1972 Bennett l5/230.ll 3,596,946 8/1971 Burton et a1. 15/144B UX 3,520,628 7/1970 Moceri l5/230.ll X 3,380,097 4/1968 Pharris15/230.1l X 3,119,137 l/1964 Schveler 151230.11

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,083,930 6/1954 France 15/230.1l

208,870 11/1966 Sweden 15/144 B 470,745 12/1927 Germany 15/144 B 735,2558/1955 Great Britain 15/144 B Primary Examiner-Daniel BlumAttorney-Donald L. Otto [5 7] ABSTRACT Roller frame includes anexpandable core on the roller frame shaft having plural expandablefingers which are forced radially outwardly into frictional engagementwith the inner diameter of a roller cover telescoped over the expandablefingers during axial movement of the expandable core in one directionrelative to an axially stationary cam hub on the shaft. Removal of theroller cover merely requires the application of. thumb pressure to theinboard end of the expandable core which forces the expandable core inthe opposite direction releasing the expandable fingers from the lockingtension of the cam hub and thereby permitting radial inward movement ofthe expandable fingers to release the roller cover from the frame. Atelescoping handle extension may be attached to the frame handlepermitting extension of both the handle and handle extension to anydesired length and releasably locked in place for reaching differentheights.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIED M16 I sum 1 OF 2 INVENTORS.ELVERTO/V Q ROE CHARLES 6. MOORE ATTORNEYS PAIENIEB I 4 SHEET 2 OF 2INVENTORS. ELI/EETO/V 0. ROE

CHARL E5 6'. MOORE ATTORNEYS HAND HELD ROLLER FRAME BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates generally as indicated to a rollerframe, and more particularly, to a roller frame having provision forfrictionally retaining a roller cover in place and permitting readyreplacement thereof.

i There are several known types of paint roller frames which provide forreplacement of the paint roller cover after use so that the frame may bereused at a substantial savings. The most common way of retaining thepaint roller cover on the frame is by a wing nut or the like threadedonto the outboard end of the roller frame shaft. However, to replace theroller cover requires the operator to unscrew the nut and physicallypull the cover off the shaft, which is particularly unsatisfactory whenthe roller cover and other parts of the roller frame are coated withpaint. Reinserting the roller frame shaft through the holes in the endcaps of a new roller cover is also sometimes difficult and timeconsuming, and the threaded end of the roller frame shaft usuallyprojects beyond the outboard end of the paint roller cover afterassembly by an amount sufficient to interfere with painting closelyadjacent to comers and the like.

Flexible cage frames are also used for frictionally retaining paintroller covers in place, but they are relatively expensive and alsorequire handling of the cover to remove it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, it is a principalobject of this invention to provide a roller frame which positivelyretains the roller cover thereon during use and yet permits readyremoval of the roller cover without having to touch it which isparticularly advantageous when the roller cover is filled with paint orother material.

Another object is to provide such a roller frame which permits quick andeasy assembly of a roller cover onto the frame.

Still another object is to provide such a roller frame in which both thehandle extension and frame are extensible to provide a three-piecetelescoping section permitting adjustment of the length for reachingdifferent heights.

These and other objects of the present invention may be achieved byproviding the roller frame with an expandable-core at the inboard end ofthe roller frame shaft. The expandable core has plural expandablefingers thereon which are forced radially outwardly into frictionalengagement with the inner diameter of a surrounding roller cover by anaxially stationary cam hub on the shaft during axial movement of theexpandable core toward the inboard end.-

Removal of the roller cover merely requires the application ofsufficient thumb pressure to the inboard end of the expandable core toforce the expandable core axially outwardly which releases theexpandable fingers from the locking tension of the cam hub and permitsradial inward movement of the expandable fingers to release the rollercover from the frame. The forward motion of the expandable coretransmits momen' tuni to the roller cover causing it to slip freely fromthe core when its forward movement is stopped by engagement with theaxially stationary cam hub. This is an advantage over prior knownfrictional retaining devices in that the roller cover may be removedwithout having to handle it.

An extensible handle extension may be attached to the frame for reachingdifferent heights, and the frame may also be extensible relative to thehandle extension to provide a three-piece telescoping section forgreater adjustment of the length thereof.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrativeembodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but oneof the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a preferred form ofroller frame and' extensible handle extension constructed in accordancewith this invention, such handle extension being shown fully retracted;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section similar to FIG. I butshowing the handle extension and frame fully extended;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the handle extension ofFIG. 1, taken on the plane of the line 3-3 thereof;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged side elevation views of the roller frameshaft and roller cover supporting and retaining members of FIGS. 1 and2, showing sequentially the procedure for assembling a roller cover,partially broken away, onto the roller frame;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are further enlarged longitudinal sections through theroller cover supporting and retaining members in the positions shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, at the inboard end of the roller frameshaft;

FIG. 8- is a side elevation view of the expandable core only for theroller cover supporting and retaining member of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of the expandable core of FIG. 8 as seenfrom the plane of the line 9-9 at the right end of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the'cam hub only for the rollercover supporting and retaining member of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to thedrawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown by wayof example a preferred form of roller frame lconstructed in accordancewith this invention. The roller frame 1 is desirably made from heavygauge wire or rod bent to shape to provide a handle portion 2 at one endand a shaft portion 3 at the other end for rotatably supporting a rollercover 4 thereon in a manner to be more fully described hereafter.

Attached to the handle portion 2 of the frame 1 is a handle extension 5which may be of any conventional design but desirably consists of a pairof telescoping members 6 and I which may be fully retracted as shown inFIG. I or fully extended as shown in FIG. 2 or anywhere in between topermit the operator to reach different heights.

When the extensible handle extension 5 is adjusted to the desiredlongitudinal adjusted position, the telescoping members 6 and 7 may bereleasably locked in such adjusted position as by means of a cam lock 8which may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,946, granted Aug.3, 1971, including a generally cylindrically shaped plug 9 and a collaror ring 10. The plug 9 is inserted in the end of the inner telescopingmember 6 and locked in place as by indenting the inner telescopingmember around the outer periphery of the plug, and the collar or ring 10is received in an eccentric groove 11 in the outer periphery on theouter projecting portion 12 of the plug. The collar 10 has an outercylindrical surface 13 and an eccentric opening 14 providing the collarwith a shape corresponding to the eccentric groove 11 in the plug 9.

Projecting into the eccentric groove 11 in the plug 9 is a projection orstop 15 which is received in a circumferentially extending slot 16 inthe collar 10 for limiting the extent of rotation of the collar relativeto the plug by engagement of the ends of the slot with the stop. Theslot 16 desirably extends approximately 180 around the collar 10, andthe projection 15 is positioned so that when the collar is rotated in aclockwise direction to bring one end 17 of the slot 16 into engagementwith the projection as shown in FIG. 3, the collar is eccentricallydisposed on the plug, forcing the collar and plug into frictionalengagement with opposite sides of the outer telescoping member 7 forlocking both telescoping members 6 and 7 in longitudinal adjustedposition. When the collar 10 is rotated in the reverse orcounterclockwise direction to bring the other end 18 of the slot 16 intoengagement with the projection 15, the collar is concentrically locatedwithin the groove 11 on the plug 9 and will not interfere withlongitudinal adjustment of the outer telescoping member 7 with respectto the inner telescoping member 6.

The collar 10 is made of a flexible material such as nylon and is splitto facilitate assembly of the collar onto the plug and assure frictionalsliding contact between the collar and inner diameter of the outermember 7 even when the collar is concentrically disposed within thegroove 11. Such a cam lock 8 permits positive locking of the telescopingmembers 6 and 7 in adjusted position by relative rotation of suchmembers in one direction and permits the members to be released byrelative rotation of the members in the opposite direction for furtherlongitudinal adjustment of the members thus providing to the user aknown direction both for tightening and untightening of the lock. For amore detailed description of the construction and operation of the camlock 8, reference may be had to the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.3,596,946 which is incorporated herein by way of reference.

The handle portion 2 of roller frame 1 is desirably of sufficient lengthto extend substantially the full length of the inner telescoping member6, and such handle portion may have a cam lock 19 similar to the camlock 8 suitably attached to the outermost end thereof thus to permit thehandle portion 2 as well as the handle extension 5 to be releasablylocked in longitudinal adjusted position within the inner member 6anywhere between the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 1 and thefully extended position shown in FIG. 2. The roller frame handle portion2'is supported within the nearest end of the inner tubular member 6 by abushing 20 disposed therewithin, such bushing acting as a guide for theroller frame handle portion during longitudinal adjustment thereof andproviding a stop for the cam lock 19 limiting outward extension of thehandle portion 2 relative to the handle extension 5.

For supporting and retaining the roller cover 4 on the shaft portion 3of the roller frame 1, there is provided a roller cover supporting andretaining member 25 on the inboard end of the shaft 3 and a roller coversupporting member 26 on the outboard end. The outboard roller coversupport member 26 is in the form of an annular support roll made ofplastic or other suitable material whose outside diameter is slightlyless than the inside diameter of the roller cover 4. Centrally of theoutboard support roll 26 is a central bearing sleeve portion 27 whichsupports the support roll on the shaft 3 for rotation (see FIG. 1), andthe support roll is retained in place on the shaft as by providingstakes 28 on the shaft adjacent the inboard end of the support roll anda snap-on cap 29 on the outboard end of the shaft.

The roller cover supporting and retaining member 25 includes anelongated bearing sleeve or bushing 30 rotatable on the inboard end ofthe shaft 3 and retained against axial movement as by staking the shaftadjacent the ends of the sleeve, with washers 31 preferably beingdisposed between the stakes 32 and sleeve ends to facilitate rotation ofthe sleeve. Fixed to the bearing sleeve 30 in axially spaced relationfrom the inboard end thereof intermediate the ends of the bearing sleeve30 is a cam hub 33 having an exterior cam taper 34 shaped as best seenin FIGS. 6, 7 and I0.

Axially slidably received on the inboard portion of the bearing sleeve30 is an expandable core 35 which as best seen in FIGS. 6 through 9includes an end cap 36 for covering the inboard end of the roller cover4 when brought into engagement with an outer peripheral shoulder or step37 on the expandable core. Projecting axially outwardly from the end cap36 in circumferentially spaced relation toward the outboard end of theshaft are a plurality of expandable locking fingers 38.

When the expandable core 35 is moved closely adjacent the cam hub 33 asshown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the expandable locking fingers 38 are free tomove radially inwardly to their normal retracted position permittingfree sliding movement of the roller cover 4 over the locking fingers.During return movement of the expandable core from the FIG. 6 positionto the FIG. 7 position the expandable locking fingers 38 are forcedradially outwardly by the cam hub 33 into frictional engagement with theinner diameter of the roller cover. When the expandable core 35 is inits inboardmost position shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 7, the expandablelocking fingers 38 are maintained in frictional engagement with theinner diameter of the roller cover by the cam hub 33 which contacts theinner cam surfaces 39 on the locking fingers and engages offset ordetent areas 40 on such cam surfaces 39 locking the expandable core inplace.

Although the outer surfaces of the flexible locking fingers 38 are shownas being substantially semicylindrical when in the retracted position,it will be apparent that the locking fingers may be of other shapes, forexample, they may be provided with an inwardly bowed middle portion forincreased expansion by the cam hub when the expandable core is moved tothe inboardmost position. Moreover, the outer surfaces of the flexiblefingers may be provided with serrations and the like to enhancegripping.

To assemble the roller cover 4 onto the roller frame 1, thumb pressureshould first be applied to the end cap 36 of the expandable core 35 tomake certain that the expandable core is in its outboardmost position upagainst the inboard end of the cam hub 33 with the expandable lockingfingers 38 in their radial innermost position where they will notinterfere with sliding of the open end of the roller cover 4 onto theexpandable core from the outboard end as shown in FIG. 4. When theinboard end of the roller cover 4 engages the outer shoulder or step 37on the expandable core 35, a pushing force is applied to the outbdardend of the roller cover to push the expandable core and roller coveraxially to the inboardmost end position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Duringsuch axial movement of the expandable core 35 from the FIG. 6 positionto the FIG. 7 position, the expandable locking fingers 38 are forcedconcentrically radially outwardly as the interior cam surfaces 39 on thelocking fingers ride over the exterior tapered cam surface 34 on the camhub 33 as aforesaid thereby frictionally locking the roller cover inplace. By the time the expandable core '35 reaches the inboardmostposition shown in FIG. 7 against the stop provided by the inboard stakes32 and washer 31, the locking fingers 38 on the expandable core willhave ridden up over the cam hub 33 and the cam hub will be engaging theoffset or detent areas 40 on the inner cam surfaces to lock theexpandable core in place. A separate end cap 41 may be provided on theoutboard end of the roller cover 4 to protect the outboard support roll26 which is located within the paint roller cover after assembly frombeing covered with paint.

Removal of the roller cover 4 from the roller frame 1 merely requiresthe application of thumb pressure to the inboard end of the expandablecore 35 while holding the roller frame stationary to move the expandablecore back from the FIG. 7 position to the FIG. 6 posi tion whichreleases the locking fingers 38 from the locking tension of the cam hub33 and permits radial inward movement of the expandable fingers torelease the roller cover from the frame. The forward motion of theexpandable core 35 from the FIG. 7 position to the FIG. 6 positionprovides momentum to the roller cover 4 causing it to freely slide offthe expandable core when its forward movement is stopped by engagementwith the cam hub.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the roller frame of thesubject invention provides a very simple and effective means forfrictionally retaining a roller cover in place and greatly facilitatesremoval of the roller cover without the necessity of having to handleit. The roller frame may also be provided with a handle extension whichalso permits extension of the roller frame relative to the handleextension for reaching different heights.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilegeis claimed are defined as follows:

l. A roller frame comprising a handle portion and a shaft portion havingan outboard end and an inboard end connected to said handle portion, andretaining means mounted on said shaft portion for frictionally retaininga roller cover thereon, said retaining means comprising a cam hub andexpandable core mounted on said shaft portion for axial movementrelative to each other, said expandable core comprising an end cap forone end of such roller cover, and a plurality of elongatedcircumferentially spaced axially extending radially expandable lockingfingers supported at one of their ends by said end cap and unsupportedat their other ends, said expandable locking fingers having interiortapered cam surfaces which taper inwardly from the supported ends ofsaid expandable locking fingers toward the unsupported ends thereof andterminate a substantial distance from the ends of said expandablelocking fingers, said cam hub having an exterior tapered cam surfacecorresponding to the interior tapered cam surfaces on said lockingfingers, whereby said locking fingers are urged radially outwardlyduring relative axial movement of said cam hub and expandable core inone direction and are urged radially inwardly during relative axialmovement of said cam hub and expandable core in the opposite direction,said expandable locking fingers having detent means adjacent the radialinnermost ends of said interior tapered cam surfaces engageable by saidcam hub for locking said expandable locking fingers in expandedcondition.

2. The roller frame of claim 1 wherein said cam hub is fixed againstaxial movement on said shaft portion and said expandable core is axiallymovable relative to said cam hub, said cam hub being mounted on abearing sleeve rotatably received on said shaft portion, said bearingsleeve having axially extending portions extending axially beyond bothends of said cam hub, said expandable core being axially slidablyreceived on one of said axially extending portions.

3. The roller frame of claim 2 wherein said one axially extendingportion of said bearing sleeve is at the inboard end of said shaftportion, and said expandable locking fingers are urged radiallyoutwardly during axialmovement of said expandable core toward saidinboard end and urged radially inwardly during axial movement of saidexpandable core toward said out board end.

4. The roller frame of claim 2 wherein spikes are provided on said shaftportion adjacent opposite ends of said bearing sleeve to retain saidbearing sleeve against axial movement, and washers are disposed betweensaid spikes and bearing sleeve ends to facilitate rotation of saidbearing sleeve and cam hub carried thereby on said shaft portion, one ofsaid washers acting as a stop limiting axial movement of said expandablecore away from said cam hub.

S. The roller frame of claim I wherein said cam hub and expandable coreare mounted on the inboard end of said shaft portion and an annularroller support is mounted on said outboard end, and said end cap has aperipheral shoulder engageable by one end of said roller cover.

6. The roller frame of claim 1 further comprising an extensible handleextension attached to the outer end of said handle portion, said handleextension including inner and outer telescoping members movable axiallyrelative to each other to adjust the length of said handle extension,and means for locking said telescoping members in axially adjustedposition, said handle portion being axially movable within said handleextension to adjust the length of said handle poru'on, and means forlocking said handle portion in axially adjusted position within saidhandle extension.

=0= lk II; '3

1. A roller frame comprising a handle portion and a shaft portion havingan outboard end and an inboard end connected to said handle portion, andretaining means mounted on said shaft portion for frictionally retaininga roller cover thereon, said retaining means comprising a cam hub andexpandable core mounted on said shaft portion for axial movementrelative to each other, said expandable core comprising an end cap forone end of such roller cover, and a plurality of elongatedcircumferentially spaced axially extending radially expandable lockingfingers supported at one of their ends by said end cap and unsupportedat their other ends, said expandable locking fingers having interiortapered cam surfaces which taper inwardly from the supported ends ofsaid expandable locking fingers toward the unsupported ends thereof andterminate a substantial distance from the ends of said expandablelocking fingers, said cam hub having an exterior tapered cam surfacecorresponding to the interior tapered cam surfaces on said lockingfingers, whereby said locking fingers are urged radially outwardlyduring relative axial movement of said cam hub and expandable core inone direction and are urged radially inwardly during relative axialmovement of said cam hub and expandable core in the opposite direction,said expandable locking fingers having detent means adjacent the radialinnermost ends of said interior tapered cam surfaces engageable by saidcam hub for locking said expandable locking fingers in expandedcondition.
 2. The roller frame of claim 1 wherein said cam hub is fixedagainst axial movement on said shaft portion and said expandable core isaxially movable relative to said cam hub, said cam hub being mounted oNa bearing sleeve rotatably received on said shaft portion, said bearingsleeve having axially extending portions extending axially beyond bothends of said cam hub, said expandable core being axially slidablyreceived on one of said axially extending portions.
 3. The roller frameof claim 2 wherein said one axially extending portion of said bearingsleeve is at the inboard end of said shaft portion, and said expandablelocking fingers are urged radially outwardly during axial movement ofsaid expandable core toward said inboard end and urged radially inwardlyduring axial movement of said expandable core toward said outboard end.4. The roller frame of claim 2 wherein spikes are provided on said shaftportion adjacent opposite ends of said bearing sleeve to retain saidbearing sleeve against axial movement, and washers are disposed betweensaid spikes and bearing sleeve ends to facilitate rotation of saidbearing sleeve and cam hub carried thereby on said shaft portion, one ofsaid washers acting as a stop limiting axial movement of said expandablecore away from said cam hub.
 5. The roller frame of claim 1 wherein saidcam hub and expandable core are mounted on the inboard end of said shaftportion and an annular roller support is mounted on said outboard end,and said end cap has a peripheral shoulder engageable by one end of saidroller cover.
 6. The roller frame of claim 1 further comprising anextensible handle extension attached to the outer end of said handleportion, said handle extension including inner and outer telescopingmembers movable axially relative to each other to adjust the length ofsaid handle extension, and means for locking said telescoping members inaxially adjusted position, said handle portion being axially movablewithin said handle extension to adjust the length of said handleportion, and means for locking said handle portion in axially adjustedposition within said handle extension.